With Love, Ophelia

three

The blue vault of the sky stretched across the horizon but it felt like it was caving in, enclosing Maya. But she didn't mind, if anything it made her feel secure, less vulnerable. Matt, Andy and others along with Maya had spent a wonderful day at the local diners chatting, playing games and enjoying the delectable food. It was blissful to say the least.

"Enjoying?" Matt leaned into Maya as he rested his hand on her chair. Maya quickly averted her eyes as blush slowly crept up her cheeks. "Umm?"

"Yes" Maya timidly replied looking up at him. She suddenly felt something grab her hand "Shall we go out for a ride?" Maya was taken aback by his forwardness. Andy was keenly listening to their conversation though her eyes were planted on her plate of food. She discreetly and gently elbowed Maya as if urging her to accept. Maya slightly glanced at her sister who retuned a look as if pleading her to give him a chance.

He was nice, respectful and shared many of her interests. It wouldn't hurt to try to get to know him, even if things don't work out romantically, Maya was sure he would make a great friend. In short, she had nothing to lose, it was time she let someone, anyone, inside the wall she built around herself. She turned towards Matt who was already looking at her, when she nodded the most breathtaking smile graced his face, breathtaking and familiar. 

The quickly excused themselves earning the customary teasing 'ooo's as they left the diner. They took the street leading to the lover's park, coincidently of course, but romantic nevertheless. In the diner Maya was too shy, too conscious of others to take a good look at Matt. At first glance it was obvious that he falls on the attractive side of the scale with a moderate built  and a charming smile, but now Maya could look at  him freely, taking in every inch of him. 

"Have we met before?" the question suddenly popped the silence between them. Matt looked her way with a playful smirk.

"Hitting on me? and in the diner I thought you weren't interested" Maya quickly looked away

"No"

"No to hitting on me, or not interested part"

"Hitting on you" Maya replied softly

"Then you are interested?" Matt winked at her as her face turned beet red.

They sat by the bench shielded from passerby's prying eyes. Suddenly Maya felt something soft and warm graze her hand before embracing it leaving a fuzzing feeling. It didn't take long to understand who that warm touch below to, she look up at Matt as she took in all of him. Something left familiar, very familiar. 

His curly chocolate brown hair, the way they seemed to bounce in airiness. His drooping dark eyes, thick lush eyebrows mounted above them, forming a light unibrow. His pointed nose and his light stubble. Robust yet sophisticated. 

But she couldn't put a finger on it, until a slight drizzle coated her arm as the leaves and flowers waltzed past her.  A cool yet rejuvenating breeze swept past her only to be quickly replaced by a blanket of warmth as Matt pulled her closer to him. Her body instantly relaxed soaking in his subtle scent of his aftershave, mixed with the woodsy floral scent hitting her in soft ripples. She looked up at him and suddenly she knew it. 

A wave of deja vu crashed into her like a truck. She's been like this before, the scent, the nature and those oddly similar features, at all reminded her of him, of Rahul. Maya detested herself, hated herself for remembering him after everything that happened. She hated the part of her that still craved for him. She hated everything about this.

Maya abruptly pushed Matt away who only stared at her bewildered. Before he could question, Maya dashed out the park trying to ignore him calling her.